Thursday, October 31, 2013

Athamas, king of Bœotia, had married Nephele, a cloud-nymph, and
their children were Helle and Phryxus. The restless and wandering nature
of Nephele, however, soon wearied her husband, who, being a mortal, had
little sympathy with his ethereal consort; so he divorced her, and
married the beautiful but wicked Ino (sister of Semele), who hated her
step-children, and even planned their destruction. But the watchful
Nephele contrived to circumvent her cruel designs, and succeeded in
getting the children out of the palace. She then placed them both on the
back of a winged ram, with a fleece of pure gold, which had been given to
her by Hermes; and on this wonderful animal brother and sister rode
through the air over land and sea; but on the way Helle, becoming seized
with giddiness, fell into the sea (called after her the Hellespont) and
was drowned.

Phryxus arrived safely at Colchis, where he was hospitably received by
king Aëtes, who gave him one of his daughters in marriage. In gratitude
to Zeus for the protection accorded him during his flight, Phryxus
sacrificed to him the golden ram, whilst the fleece he presented to
Aëtes, who nailed it up in the Grove of Ares, and dedicated it to the god
of War. An oracle having declared that the life of Aëtes depended on the
safe-keeping of the fleece, he carefully guarded the entrance to the
grove by placing before it an immense dragon, which never slept.

BUILDING AND LAUNCH OF THE ARGO

We will now return to
Jason, who eagerly undertook the perilous expedition proposed to him by
his uncle, who, well aware of the dangers attending such an enterprise,
hoped by this means to rid himself for ever of the unwelcome
intruder.

Jason accordingly began to arrange his plans without delay, and
invited the young heroes whose friendship he had formed whilst under
the care of Chiron, to join him in the perilous expedition. None refused
the invitation, all feeling honoured at being allowed the privilege of
taking part in so noble and heroic an undertaking.

Jason now applied to Argos, one of the cleverest ship-builders of his
time, who, under the guidance of Pallas-Athene, built for him a splendid
fifty-oared galley, which was called the Argo, after the builder. In the
upper deck of the vessel the goddess had imbedded a board from the
speaking oak of the oracle of Zeus at Dodona, which ever retained its
powers of prophecy. The exterior of the ship was ornamented with
magnificent carvings, and the whole vessel was so strongly built that it
defied the power of the winds and waves, and was, nevertheless, so light
that the heroes, when necessary, were able to carry it on their
shoulders. When the vessel was completed, the Argonauts (so called after
their ship) assembled, and their places were distributed by lot.

Jason was appointed commander-in-chief of the expedition, Tiphys acted
as steersman, Lynceus as pilot. In the bow of the vessel sat the renowned
hero Heracles; in the stern, Peleus (father of Achilles) and Telamon (the
father of Ajax the Great). In the inner space were Castor and Pollux,
Neleus (the father of Nestor), Admetus (the husband of Alcestes),
Meleager (the slayer of the Calydonian boar), Orpheus (the renowned
singer), Menoctius (the father of Patroclus), Theseus (afterwards king of
Athens) and his friend Pirithöus (the son of Ixion), Hylas (the adopted
son of Heracles), Euphemus (the son of Poseidon), Oileus (father of Ajax
the Lesser), Zetes and Calais (the winged sons of Boreas), Idmon the Seer
(the son of Apollo), Mopsus (the Thessalian prophet).

Before their departure Jason offered a solemn sacrifice to Poseidon
and all the other sea-deities; he also invoked the protection of Zeus and
the Fates, and then, Mopsus having taken the auguries, and found them
auspicious, the heroes stepped on board. And now a favourable breeze
having sprung up, they take their allotted places, the anchor is weighed,
and the ship glides like a bird out of the harbour into the waters of the
great sea.

ARRIVAL AT LEMNOS

The Argo, with her brave crew of fifty
heroes, was soon out of sight, and the sea-breeze only wafted to the
shore a faint echo of the sweet strains of Orpheus.

For a time all went smoothly, but the vessel was soon driven, by
stress of weather, to take refuge in a harbour in the island of Lemnos.
This island was inhabited by women only, who, the year before, in a fit
of mad jealousy, had killed all the male population of the island, with
the exception of the father of their queen, Hypsipyle. As the protection
of their island now devolved upon themselves they were always on the
look-out for danger. When, therefore, they sighted the Argo from afar
they armed themselves and rushed to the shore, determined to repel any
invasion of their territory.

On arriving in port the Argonauts, astonished at beholding an armed
crowd of women, despatched a herald in one of their boats, bearing the
staff of peace and friendship.

Hypsipyle, the queen, proposed that food
and presents should be sent to the strangers, in order to prevent their
landing; but her old nurse, who stood beside her, suggested that this
would be a good opportunity to provide themselves with noble husbands,
who would act as their defenders, and thus put an end to their constant
fears. Hypsipyle listened attentively to the advice of her nurse, and
after some consultation, decided to invite the strangers into the city.
Robed in his purple mantle, the gift of Pallas-Athene, Jason, accompanied
by some of his companions, stepped on shore, where he was met by a
deputation consisting of the most beautiful of the Lemnian women, and, as
commander of the expedition, was invited into the palace of the
queen.

When he appeared before Hypsipyle, she was so struck with his godlike
and heroic presence that she presented him with her father's sceptre, and
invited him to seat himself on the throne beside her. Jason thereupon
took up his residence in the royal castle,
whilst his companions scattered themselves through the town, spending
their time in feasting and pleasure.

Heracles, with a few chosen
comrades, alone remained on board.

From day to day their departure was delayed, and the Argonauts, in
their new life of dissipation, had almost forgotten the object of the
expedition, when Heracles suddenly appeared amongst them, and at last
recalled them to a sense of their duty.

GIANTS AND DOLIONES

The Argonauts now pursued their
voyage, till contrary winds drove them towards an island, inhabited by
the Doliones, whose king Cyzicus received them with great kindness and
hospitality. The Doliones were descendants of Poseidon, who protected
them against the frequent attacks of their fierce and formidable
neighbours, the earth-born Giants - monsters with six arms.

Whilst his companions were attending a banquet given by king Cyzicus,
Heracles, who, as usual, had remained behind to guard the ship, observed
that these Giants were busy blocking up the harbour with huge rocks. He
at once realized the danger, and, attacking them with his arrows,
succeeded in considerably thinning their numbers; then, assisted by the
heroes, who at length came to his aid, he effectually destroyed the
remainder.

The Argo now steered out of the harbour and set sail; but in
consequence of a severe storm which arose at night, was driven back once
more to the shores of the kindly Doliones.

Unfortunately, however, owing
to the darkness of the night, the inhabitants failed to recognize their
former guests, and, mistaking them for enemies, commenced to attack them.
Those who had so recently parted as friends were now engaged in mortal
combat, and in the battle which ensued, Jason himself pierced to the
heart his friend king Cyzicus; whereupon the Doliones, being deprived of
their leader, fled to their city and closed the gates. When morning
dawned, and both sides perceived their error, they were filled with the
deepest sorrow and remorse; and for three days the heroes remained with
the Doliones, celebrating the funereal rites of the slain, with every
demonstration of mourning and solemnity.

HERACLES LEFT BEHIND

The Argonauts once more set sail,
and after a stormy voyage arrived at Mysia, where they were hospitably
received by the inhabitants, who spread before them plentiful banquets
and sumptuously regaled them.

While his friends were feasting, Heracles, who had declined to join
them, went into the forest to seek a fir-tree which he required for an
oar, and was missed by his adopted son Hylas, who set out to seek him.
When the youth arrived at a spring, in the most secluded part of the
forest, the nymph of the fountain was so struck by his beauty that she
drew him down beneath the waters, and he was seen no more. Polyphemus,
one of the heroes, who happened to be also in the forest, heard his cry
for help, and on meeting Heracles informed him of the circumstance. They
at once set out in search of the missing youth, no traces of whom were to
be found, and whilst they were engaged looking for him, the Argo set sail
and left them behind.

The ship had proceeded some distance before the absence of Heracles
was observed. Some of the heroes were in favour of returning for him,
others wished to proceed on their journey, when, in the midst of the
dispute, the sea-god Glaucus arose from the waves, and informed them that
it was the will of Zeus that Heracles, having another mission to perform,
should remain behind. The Argonauts continued their voyage without their
companions; Heracles returned to Argos, whilst Polyphemus remained with
the Mysians, where he founded a city and became its king.

CONTEST WITH AMYCUS

Next morning the Argo touched at the
country of the Bebrycians, whose king Amycus was a famous pugilist, and
permitted no strangers to leave his shores without matching their strength with his. When the heroes,
therefore, demanded permission to land, they were informed that they
could only do so provided that one of their number should engage in a
boxing-match with the king. Pollux, who was the best pugilist in Greece,
was selected as their champion, and a contest took place, which, after a
tremendous struggle, proved fatal to Amycus, who had hitherto been
victorious in all similar encounters.

PHINEUS AND THE HARPIES

They now proceeded towards
Bithynia, where reigned the blind old prophet-king Phineus, son of
Agenor. Phineus had been punished by the gods with premature old age and
blindness for having abused the gift of prophecy. He was also tormented
by the Harpies, who swooped down upon his food, which they either
devoured or so defiled as to render it unfit to be eaten. This poor old
man, trembling with the weakness of age, and faint with hunger, appeared
before the Argonauts, and implored their assistance against his fiendish
tormentors, whereupon Zetes and Calais, the winged sons of Boreas,
recognizing in him the husband of their sister Cleopatra, affectionately
embraced him, and promised to rescue him from his painful position.

The heroes prepared a banquet on the sea-shore, to which they invited
Phineus; but no sooner had he taken his place, than the Harpies appeared
and devoured all the viands. Zetes and Calais now rose up into the air,
drove the Harpies away, and were pursuing them with drawn swords, when
Iris, the swift-footed messenger of the gods, appeared, and desired them
to desist from their work of vengeance, promising that Phineus should be
no longer molested.

Freed at length from his tormentors the old man sat down and enjoyed a
plentiful repast with his kind friends the Argonauts, who now informed
him of the object of their voyage. In gratitude for his deliverance
Phineus gave them much useful information concerning their journey, and
not only warned them of the manifold dangers awaiting them,
but also instructed them how they might be overcome.

PASSAGE OF THE SYMPLEGADES

After a fortnight's sojourn
in Bithynia the Argonauts once more set sail, but had not proceeded far
on their course, when they heard a fearful and tremendous crash. This was
caused by the meeting of two great rocky islands, called the Symplegades,
which floated about in the sea, and constantly met and separated.

Before leaving Bithynia, the blind old seer, Phineus, had informed
them that they would be compelled to pass between these terrible rocks,
and he instructed them how to do so with safety. As they now approached
the scene of danger they remembered his advice, and acted upon it.
Typhus, the steersman, stood at the helm, whilst Euphemus held in his
hand a dove ready to be let loose; for Phineus had told them that if the
dove ventured to fly through, they might safely follow. Euphemus now
despatched the bird, which passed swiftly through the islands, yet not
without losing some of the feathers of her tail, so speedily did they
reunite. Seizing the moment when the rocks once more separated, the
Argonauts worked at their oars with all their might, and achieved the
perilous passage in safety.

After the miraculous passage of the Argo, the Symplegades became
permanently united, and attached to the bottom of the sea.

THE STYMPHALIDES

The Argo pursued her course along the
southern coast of the Pontus, and arrived at the island of Aretias, which
was inhabited by birds, who, as they flew through the air, discharged
from their wings feathers sharp as arrows.

As the ship was gliding along, Oileus was wounded by one of these
birds, whereupon the Argonauts held a council, and by the advice of
Amphidamas, an experienced hero, all put on their helmets, and held up
their glittering shields, uttering, at the same time, such fearful cries
that the birds flew away in terror, and the
Argonauts were enabled to land with safety on the island.

Here they found four shipwrecked youths, who proved to be the sons of
Phryxus, and were greeted by Jason as his cousins. On ascertaining the
object of the expedition they volunteered to accompany the Argo, and to
show the heroes the way to Colchis. They also informed them that the
Golden Fleece was guarded by a fearful dragon, that king Aëtes was
extremely cruel, and, as the son of Apollo, was possessed of superhuman
strength.

ARRIVAL AT COLCHIS

Taking with them the four new-comers
they journeyed on, and soon came in sight of the snow-capped peaks of the
Caucasus, when, towards evening, the loud flapping of wings was heard
overhead. It was the giant eagle of Prometheus on his way to torture the
noble and long-suffering Titan, whose fearful groans soon afterwards fell
upon their ears. That night they reached their journey's end, and
anchored in the smooth waters of the river Phases. On the left bank of
this river they beheld Ceuta, the capital of Colchis; and on their right
a wide field, and the sacred grove of Ares, where the Golden Fleece,
suspended from a magnificent oak-tree, was glittering in the sun. Jason
now filled a golden cup with wine, and offered a libation to
mother-earth, the gods of the country, and the shades of those of the
heroes who had died on the voyage.

Next morning a council was held, in which it was decided, that before
resorting to forcible measures kind and conciliatory overtures should
first be made to king Aëtes in order to induce him to resign the Golden
Fleece. It was arranged that Jason, with a few chosen companions, should
proceed to the royal castle, leaving the remainder of the crew to guard
the Argo. Accompanied, therefore, by Telamon and Augeas, and the four
sons of Phryxus, he set out for the palace.

When they arrived in sight of the castle they were struck by the
vastness and massiveness of the building, at the entrance to which
sparkling fountains played in the midst of luxuriant and park-like
gardens. Here the king's daughters, Chalciope and Medea, who were walking
in the grounds of the palace, met them. The former, to her great joy,
recognized in the youths who accompanied the hero her own long-lost sons,
whom she had mourned as dead, whilst the young and lovely Medea was
struck with the noble and manly form of Jason.

The news of the return of the sons of Phryxus soon spread through the
palace, and brought Aëtes himself to the scene, whereupon the strangers
were presented to him, and were invited to a banquet which the king
ordered to be prepared in their honour. All the most beautiful ladies of
the court were present at this entertainment; but in the eyes of Jason
none could compare with the king's daughter, the young and lovely
Medea.

When the banquet was ended, Jason related to the king his various
adventures, and also the object of his expedition, with the circumstances
which had led to his undertaking it. Aëtes listened, in silent
indignation, to this recital, and then burst out into a torrent of
invectives against the Argonauts and his grand-children, declaring that
the Fleece was his rightful property, and that on no consideration would
he consent to relinquish it. Jason, however, with mild and persuasive
words, contrived so far to conciliate him, that he was induced to promise
that if the heroes could succeed in demonstrating their divine origin by
the performance of some task requiring superhuman power, the Fleece
should be theirs.

The task proposed by Aëtes to Jason was that he should yoke the two
brazen-footed, fire-breathing oxen of the king (which had been made for
him by Hephæstus) to his ponderous iron plough. Having done this he must
till with them the stony field of Ares, and then sow in the furrows the
poisonous teeth of a dragon, from which armed men would arise. These he
must destroy to a man, or he himself would perish at their hands.

When Jason heard what was expected of him, his heart for a moment sank
within him; but he determined, nevertheless, not to flinch from his task,
but to trust to the assistance of the gods, and to his own
courage and energy.

JASON PLOUGHS THE FIELD OF ARES

Accompanied by his two
friends, Telamon and Augeas, and also by Argus, the son of Chalciope,
Jason returned to the vessel for the purpose of holding a consultation as
to the best means of accomplishing these perilous feats.

Argus explained to Jason all the difficulties of the superhuman task
which lay before him, and pronounced it as his opinion that the only
means by which success was possible was to enlist the assistance of the
Princess Medea, who was a priestess of Hecate, and a great enchantress.
His suggestion meeting with approval, he returned to the palace, and by
the aid of his mother an interview was arranged between Jason and Medea,
which took place, at an early hour next morning, in the temple of
Hecate.

A confession of mutual attachment took place, and Medea, trembling for
her lover's safety, presented him with a magic salve, which possessed the
property of rendering any person anointed with it invulnerable for the
space of one day against fire and steel, and invincible against any
adversary however powerful. With this salve she instructed him to anoint
his spear and shield on the day of his great undertaking. She further
added that when, after having ploughed the field and sown the teeth,
armed men should arise from the furrows, he must on no account lose
heart, but remember to throw among them a huge rock, over the possession
of which they would fight among themselves, and their attention being
thus diverted he would find it an easy task to destroy them. Overwhelmed
with gratitude, Jason thanked her, in the most earnest manner, for her
wise counsel and timely aid; at the same time he offered her his hand,
and promised her he would not return to Greece without taking her with
him as his wife.

Next morning Aëtes, in all the pomp of state, surrounded by his family
and the members of his court, repaired to a spot whence a full view of
the approaching spectacle could be obtained. Soon Jason appeared in the
field of Ares, looking as noble and majestic as the god of war himself.
In a distant part of the field the brazen yokes and the massive plough
met his view, but as yet the dread animals themselves were nowhere to be
seen. He was about to go in quest of them, when they suddenly rushed out
from a subterranean cave, breathing flames of fire, and enveloped in a
thick smoke.

The friends of Jason trembled; but the undaunted hero, relying on the
magic powers with which he was imbued by Medea, seized the oxen, one
after the other, by the horns, and forced them to the yoke. Near the
plough was a helmet full of dragon's teeth, which he sowed as he ploughed
the field, whilst with sharp pricks from his lance he compelled the
monstrous creatures to draw the plough over the stony ground, which was
thus speedily tilled.

While Jason was engaged sowing the dragon's teeth in the deep furrows
of the field, he kept a cautious look-out lest the germinating giant
brood might grow too quickly for him, and as soon as the four acres of
land had been tilled he unyoked the oxen, and succeeded in frightening
them so effectually with his weapons, that they rushed back in terror to
their subterranean stables. Meanwhile armed men had sprung up out of the
furrows, and the whole field now bristled with lances; but Jason,
remembering the instructions of Medea, seized an immense rock and hurled
it into the midst of these earth-born warriors, who immediately began to
attack each other. Jason then rushed furiously upon them, and after a
terrible struggle not one of the giants remained alive.

Furious at seeing his murderous schemes thus defeated, Aëtes not only
perfidiously refused to give Jason the Fleece which he had so bravely
earned, but, in his anger, determined to destroy all the Argonauts, and
to burn their vessel.

JASON SECURES THE GOLDEN FLEECE

Becoming aware of the
treacherous designs of her father, Medea at once took measures to
baffle them. In the darkness of night she went on board the Argo, and
warned the heroes of their approaching danger. She then advised Jason to
accompany her without loss of time to the sacred grove, in order to
possess himself of the long-coveted treasure. They set out together, and
Medea, followed by Jason, led the way, and advanced boldly into the
grove.

The tall oak-tree was soon discovered, from the topmost boughs of
which hung the beautiful Golden Fleece. At the foot of this tree, keeping
his ever-wakeful watch, lay the dreadful, sleepless dragon, who at sight
of them bounded forward, opening his huge jaws.

Medea now called into play her magic powers, and quietly approaching
the monster, threw over him a few drops of a potion, which soon took
effect, and sent him into a deep sleep; whereupon Jason, seizing the
opportunity, climbed the tree and secured the Fleece. Their perilous task
being now accomplished, Jason and Medea quitted the grove, and hastened
on board the Argo, which immediately put to sea.

MURDER OF ABSYRTUS

Meanwhile Aëtes, having discovered
the loss of his daughter and the Golden Fleece, despatched a large fleet,
under the command of his son Absyrtus, in pursuit of the fugitives.

After
some days' sail they arrived at an island at the mouth of the river
Ister, where they found the Argo at anchor, and surrounded her with their
numerous ships. They then despatched a herald on board of her, demanding
the surrender of Medea and the Fleece.

Medea now consulted Jason, and, with his consent, carried out the
following stratagem. She sent a message to her brother Absyrtus, to the
effect that she had been carried off against her will, and promised that
if he would meet her, in the darkness of night, in the temple of Artemis,
she would assist him in regaining possession of the Golden Fleece.
Relying on the good faith of his sister, Absyrtus fell into the snare,
and duly appeared at the appointed trysting-place; and whilst Medea kept
her brother engaged in conversation, Jason
rushed forward and slew him. Then, according to a preconcerted signal, he
held aloft a lighted torch, whereupon the Argonauts attacked the
Colchians, put them to flight, and entirely defeated them.

The Argonauts now returned to their ship, when the prophetic board
from the Dodonean oak thus addressed them: "The cruel murder of Absyrtus
was witnessed by the Erinyes, and you will not escape the wrath of Zeus
until the goddess Circe has purified you from your crime. Let Castor and
Pollux pray to the gods that you may be enabled to find the abode of the
sorceress." In obedience to the voice, the twin-brothers invoked divine
assistance, and the heroes set out in search of the isle of Circe.

THEY ARRIVE AT THE ISLAND OF CIRCE

The good ship Argo
sped on her way, and, after passing safely through the foaming waters of
the river Eridanus, at length arrived in the harbour of the island of
Circe, where she cast anchor.

Commanding his companions to remain on board, Jason landed with Medea,
and conducted her to the palace of the sorceress. The goddess of charms
and magic arts received them kindly, and invited them to be seated; but
instead of doing so they assumed a supplicating attitude, and humbly
besought her protection. They then informed her of the dreadful crime
which they had committed, and implored her to purify them from it. This
Circe promised to do. She forthwith commanded her attendant Naiads to
kindle the fire on the altar, and to prepare everything necessary for the
performance of the mystic rites, after which a dog was sacrificed, and
the sacred cakes were burned. Having thus duly purified the criminals,
she severely reprimanded them for the horrible murder of which they had
been guilty; whereupon Medea, with veiled head, and weeping bitterly, was
reconducted by Jason to the Argo.

FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE ARGONAUTS

Having left the
island of Circe they were wafted by gentle zephyrs towards the
abode of the Sirens, whose enticing strains soon fell upon their ears.
The Argonauts, powerfully affected by the melody, were making ready to
land, when Orpheus perceived the danger, and, to the accompaniment of his
magic lyre, commenced one of his enchanting songs, which so completely
absorbed his listeners that they passed the island in safety; but not
before Butes, one of their number, lured by the seductive music of the
Sirens, had sprung from the vessel into the waves below. Aphrodite,
however, in pity for his youth, landed him gently on the island of
Libibaon before the Sirens could reach him, and there he remained for
many years.

And now the Argonauts approached new dangers, for on one side of them
seethed and foamed the whirlpool of Charybdis, whilst on the other
towered the mighty rock whence the monster Scylla swooped down upon
unfortunate mariners; but here the goddess Hera came to their assistance,
and sent to them the sea-nymph Thetis, who guided them safely through
these dangerous straits.

The Argo next arrived at the island of the Phæaces, where they were
hospitably entertained by King Alcinous and his queen Arete. But the
banquet prepared for them by their kind host was unexpectedly interrupted
by the appearance of a large army of Colchians, sent by Aëtes to demand
the restoration of his daughter.

Medea threw herself at the feet of the queen, and implored her to save
her from the anger of her father, and Arete, in her kindness of heart,
promised her her protection. Next morning, in an assembly of the people
at which the Colchians were invited to be present, the latter were
informed that as Medea was the lawful wife of Jason they could not
consent to deliver her up; whereupon the Colchians, seeing that the
resolution of the king was not to be shaken, and fearing to face the
anger of Aëtes should they return to Colchis without her, sought
permission of Alcinous to settle in his kingdom, which request was
accorded them.

After these events the Argonauts once more set sail, and steered for
Iolcus; but, in the course of a terrible and fearful night, a mighty
storm arose, and in the morning they found themselves stranded on the
treacherous quicksands of Syrtes, on the shores of Libya. Here all was a
waste and barren desert, untenanted by any living creature, save the
venomous snakes which had sprung from the blood of the Medusa when borne
by Perseus over these arid plains.

They had already passed several days in this abode of desolation,
beneath the rays of the scorching sun, and had abandoned themselves to
the deepest despair, when the Libyan queen, who was a prophetess of
divine origin, appeared to Jason, and informed him that a sea-horse would
be sent by the gods to act as his guide.

Scarcely had she departed when a gigantic hippocamp was seen in the
distance, making its way towards the Argo. Jason now related to his
companions the particulars of his interview with the Libyan prophetess,
and after some deliberation it was decided to carry the Argo on their
shoulders, and to follow wherever the sea-horse should lead them. They
then commenced a long and weary journey through the desert, and at last,
after twelve days of severe toil and terrible suffering, the welcome
sight of the sea greeted their view. In gratitude for having been saved
from their manifold dangers they offered up sacrifices to the gods, and
launched their ship once more into the deep waters of the ocean.

ARRIVAL AT CRETE

With heartfelt joy and gladness they
proceeded on their homeward voyage, and after some days arrived at the
island of Crete, where they purposed to furnish themselves with fresh
provisions and water. Their landing, however, was opposed by a terrible
giant who guarded the island against all intruders. This giant, whose
name was Talus, was the last of the Brazen race, and being formed of
brass, was invulnerable, except in his right ankle, where there was a
sinew of flesh and a vein of blood. As he saw the Argo nearing the
coast, he hurled huge rocks at her, which would inevitably have sunk the
vessel had not the crew beat a hasty retreat. Although sadly in want of
food and water, the Argonauts had decided to proceed on their journey
rather than face so powerful an opponent, when Medea came forward and
assured them that if they would trust to her she would destroy the
giant.

Enveloped in the folds of a rich purple mantle, she stepped on deck,
and after invoking the aid of the Fates, uttered a magic incantation,
which had the effect of throwing Talus into a deep sleep. He stretched
himself at full length upon the ground, and in doing so grazed his
vulnerable ankle against the point of a sharp rock, whereupon a mighty
stream of blood gushed forth from the wound. Awakened by the pain, he
tried to rise, but in vain, and with a mighty groan of anguish the giant
fell dead, and his enormous body rolled heavily over into the deep. The
heroes being now able to land, provisioned their vessel, after which they
resumed their homeward voyage.

ARRIVAL AT IOLCUS

After a terrible night of storm and
darkness they passed the island of Aegina, and at length reached in safety
the port of Iolcus, where the recital of their numerous adventures and
hair-breadth escapes was listened to with wondering admiration by their
fellow-countrymen.

The Argo was consecrated to Poseidon, and was carefully preserved for
many generations till no vestige of it remained, when it was placed in
the heavens as a brilliant constellation.

On his arrival at Iolcus, Jason conducted his beautiful bride to the
palace of his uncle Pelias, taking with him the Golden Fleece, for the
sake of which this perilous expedition had been undertaken. But the old
king, who had never expected that Jason would return alive, basely
refused to fulfil his part of the compact, and declined to abdicate the
throne.

Indignant at the wrongs of her husband, Medea avenged them in a most
shocking manner. She made friends with the daughters of the king, and
feigned great interest in all their concerns. Having gained their
confidence, she informed them, that among her numerous magic arts, she
possessed the power of restoring to the aged all the vigour and strength
of youth, and in order to give them a convincing proof of the truth of
her assertion, she cut up an old ram, which she boiled in a cauldron,
whereupon, after uttering various mystic incantations, there came forth
from the vessel a beautiful young lamb. She then assured them, that in a
similar manner they could restore to their old father his former youthful
frame and vigour. The fond and credulous daughters of Pelias lent an all
too willing ear to the wicked sorceress, and thus the old king perished
at the hands of his innocent children.

DEATH OF JASON

Medea and Jason now fled to Corinth,
where at length they found, for a time, peace and tranquillity, their
happiness being completed by the birth of three children.

As time passed on, however, and Medea began to lose the beauty which
had won the love of her husband, he grew weary of her, and became
attracted by the youthful charms of Glauce, the beautiful daughter of
Creon, king of Corinth. Jason had obtained her father's consent to their
union, and the wedding-day was already fixed, before he disclosed to
Medea the treachery which he meditated against her. He used all his
persuasive powers in order to induce her to consent to his union with
Glauce, assuring her that his affection had in no way diminished, but
that for the sake of the advantages which would thereby accrue to their
children, he had decided on forming this alliance with the royal house.
Though justly enraged at his deceitful conduct, Medea dissembled her
wrath, and, feigning to be satisfied with this explanation, sent, as a
wedding-gift to her rival, a magnificent robe of cloth-of-gold. This robe
was imbued with a deadly poison which penetrated to the flesh and
bone of the wearer, and burned them as though with a consuming fire.
Pleased with the beauty and costliness of the garment, the unsuspecting
Glauce lost no time in donning it; but no sooner had she done so than the
fell poison began to take effect. In vain she tried to tear the robe
away; it defied all efforts to be removed, and after horrible and
protracted sufferings, she expired.

Maddened at the loss of her husband's love Medea next put to death her
three sons, and when Jason, thirsting for revenge, left the chamber of
his dead bride, and flew to his own house in search of Medea, the ghastly
spectacle of his murdered children met his view. He rushed frantically to
seek the murderess, but nowhere could she be found. At length, hearing a
sound above his head, he looked up, and beheld Medea gliding through the
air in a golden chariot drawn by dragons.

In a fit of despair Jason threw himself on his own sword, and perished
on the threshold of his desolate and deserted home.

If for a moment God would forget that I am a rag doll and give me a
scrap of life, possibly I would not say everything that I think, but I
would definitely think everything that I say.

I would value things not for how much they are worth but rather for what they mean.

I would sleep little, dream more. I know that for each minute that we close our eyes we lose sixty seconds of light.

I would walk when the others loiter; I would awaken when the others sleep.

I would listen when the others speak, and how I would enjoy a good chocolate ice cream.

If God would bestow on me a scrap of life, I would dress simply, I would
throw myself flat under the sun, exposing not only my body but also my
soul.

My God, if I had a heart, I would write my hatred on ice and wait for
the sun to come out. With a dream of Van Gogh I would paint on the stars
a poem by Benedetti, and a song by Serrat would be my serenade to the
moon.

With my tears I would water the roses, to feel the pain of their thorns
and the incarnated kiss of their petals...My God, if I only had a scrap
of life...

I wouldn't let a single day go by without saying to people I love, that I love them.

I would convince each woman or man that they are my favourites and I would live in love with love.

I would prove to the men how mistaken they are in thinking that they no
longer fall in love when they grow old--not knowing that they grow old
when they stop falling in love. To a child I would give wings, but I
would let him learn how to fly by himself. To the old I would teach that
death comes not with old age but with forgetting. I have learned so
much from you men....

I have learned that everybody wants to live at the top of the mountain
without realizing that true happiness lies in the way we climb the
slope.

I have learned that when a newborn first squeezes his father's finger in his tiny fist, he has caught him forever.

I have learned that a man only has the right to look down on another man
when it is to help him to stand up. I have learned so many things from
you, but in the end most of it will be no use because when they put me
inside that suitcase, unfortunately I will be dying.